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 Author  Topic: Photos of 78ft Higgins used by USAF in mid 1950's
  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Mar 31, 2008 - 7:05am
I was fortunate enough to be contacted by Mr Bill Weaver, via another message board concerning the Channel Islands off the California Coast. Bill put me in touch with Mark Oberman of Channel islands Aviation, and through him to Jon Taylor, a retired Chief Master Sgt of the USAF who was stationed on Santa Rosa Island at an Aircraft Control and Early Warning Radar facility there in the mid 1950's. They sent me these photos of a 78 foot Higgins PT boat that was modified to be used as a supply and personnel transfer vessel between Port Hueneme Navy Base and Santa Rosa Island. We think these photos show PT659 most likely, but it could be any of the 4 boats delivered there after the war, (PT657,658,659 or 660). Anyway these are some great photos and they shed some light on what was happening to these 4 boats for that decade after WW2 ended. One question I have is what do those letters next to the hull numbers stand for? CTBR 15 And did anybody notice the late war SO3 radar setup on the mast? Jerry

Here is an explanation by Jon Taylor, who took most of these photos:
Here are pictures of one of the PT's arriving from Hueneme....this was always a big deal as it meant mail, fresh food. These usually happened on a Mon and a Fri around 11 am. The ships had a permanent bouy mooring to hook up the bow line....... the ship backs up to the pier and a stern line is thrown out. The ship never attempted to tie up as there we pretty good swells and no lower personnel landing that could be depended upon. They kept a crane on the pier and a civil service guy always ran it with the yellow cage.

Guys leaving the island for good would always get semi-dunked as a farewell...... this would always draw a crowd for both popular and unpopular troops. Since there was 24 hr coverage on the mountain, there was always a shift going to the mainland on break, with another returning for the next swing shift. Generally you got to go in for one weekend and the next time for a Mon-Fri break. You'd get these breaks every 30 to 45 days. We had people who had never seen the ocean before and if they came out when it was rough, they did not get on again until their 18 mo tour was done. I saw guys so sea sick, cold and drenched, sitting on those benches on deck. Others went below to play cards, but it was noisy, with no ventilation and you got pounded. I usually sat topside, belted-in with a life preserver... The photo labeled Circa 1957 is a b&w shot of one of PT boats we contracted with the Navy at Port Hueneme. There, the troops, mail, fresh produce and frozen products, would be manifested by Detachment 1, 669th AC&WS and small team of AF administrative folks permanently assigned on the naval installation.





















Another B/W shot of the people cage


Side B/W shot of the boat


On the way back to Port Hueneme


I want to thank Jon Bill and Mark for sending me these great pictures! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP Logged

Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Mar 31, 2008 - 7:32am
Jerry

Great photo's. Did all 4 boats go to Santa Rosa Island. What do we know about the other boats after their stint there. Appricate you sending the infomation along. It clears up another chapter as to where some of the boats ended up...........


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Mar 31, 2008 - 10:38pm
Hi Frank,
As far as we can tell, the 657 was sold before being used by the USAF, but we dont really know if the 658 and 660 were ever used in this fashion, although they may have been. Another source of info about this subject that I have recently contacted is Mr. BG Marshall, and he told me recently he has a cruise book from Point Mugu Naval Missile Test Facility with crew photos as well as photos of the three former PTs and the other boats in the crowd. He also says that the National Archives II Annex in College Park has a picture of the 660 burning after the hit from the bullpup missile. Also the National Archives annex in Laguna Nigel has color pictures of either the 658 or 659 (port and starboard, fore and aft) as part of the accident investigation. And PT Boats Inc in Germantown, TN may have color photos of either the 658 or 659 at San Diego with an IWU (Inshore Warfare Unit) number on the hull. He says that he believes this was her last assignment before being sold off. So that is pretty much all I have so far, but I am always trying to find out more! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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